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Stefano Gaudiano on Satrapi and the Potential for Collaboration
posted April 25, 2005
 

Stefano Gaudiano
Via the Internet

Satrapi has a crude art style and i wouldn't put her in the pantheon of comics greats quite yet, but it seems absurd to suggest she go out of her way to get a collaborator for her highly personal work. Nothing wrong with collaborative efforts in comics or other artforms, but her work so far has fallen squarely in the self-expressive camp. Having graphic skill (subject to taste) and, more importantly, the will to produce solo comics works, there is absolutely no reason for her to work differently.

Something that hasn't been seen much in comics -- if at all -- but makes much more sense to me, would be the adaptation of existing comic works by different artists. the medium in its modern form is young so there haven't been many opportunities for this sort of re-working exploration, but it wouldn't be much different than doing a re-make of a movie or even a new theatrical production of some classic. new director, new actors, same story. (come to think of it, Marvel has done it over the years).

Somewhere down the line an artist may read Embroideries and feel that it should be altered for a new audience with 'better' art. but at least he/she will have a pure artistic vision to work from in the first place.